Corfu, February 22 – Pensioners from IKA-OKA in Corfu staged a protest yesterday, February 21, 2026, vehemently rejecting the government’s announced pension increases, which they describe as a ‘mockery’. The demonstration, organized by the Pensioners’ Association, took place at Porta Reala, with participants demanding real solutions to their long-standing financial problems.
Pensioners’ Association Resolution: ‘We Reject Mockery Increases’
The Pensioners’ Association issued a strong resolution during the protest, stating their complete opposition to what they termed the government’s ‘unprecedented mockery and deception’ of retirees. They highlighted the inadequacy of the ‘crumbs’ offered to a segment of low-income pensioners, especially after 16 years of cuts to main and supplementary pensions, and the abolition of the 13th and 14th pensions.
“We continue our struggle relentlessly and demand real solutions now,” the resolution emphasized. “We will not accept or tolerate this mockery where, after 16 years of looting our main and supplementary pensions, the 13th and 14th pensions, EKAS, the imposition of an unfair and criminal personal difference, the solidarity contribution, and many other illegal and predatory reversals, when hundreds of thousands of pensioners have not received an increase for 16 years, when inflation has swept and is sweeping away meager pensions, they provocatively tell us that we should be grateful, citing fiscal problems.”
Key Demands of the Pensioners:
- Pension Increases: Increases in all pensions, both main and supplementary, to match inflation. They demand a minimum pension of 80% of the contributory salary and the institutionalization of an inflation adjustment for all pensions.
- 13th and 14th Pensions: Immediate legislative regulation and payment of the 13th and 14th pensions.
- Retroactive Payments: Immediate payment of retroactive amounts to all pensioners for the 11-month period of 2015-2016, without court proceedings or preconditions.
- Personal Difference Integration: Immediate integration of the entire personal difference into the payable contributory pension.
- Abolition of Solidarity Contribution: Elimination of the solidarity contribution (EAS).
- Widow’s Pensions: Unification of the conditions for granting old and new pensions. They demand 100% of the pension when there is no other pension, and 70% when there is a second pension, without any reduction to the heir’s pension.
- National Pension: The National Pension should be paid for all pensions.
- Recalculation of Pensions: Completion of the recalculation for main and supplementary pensions for those with over 30 years of work.
- Debt to Insurance Funds: Pensions for all retirees who owe money to insurance funds, with interest and surcharges removed, and the remaining amount withheld in monthly installments from the pension, up to 15%.
Healthcare and Social Tourism Also on the Agenda
Beyond pension issues, the protesters also raised concerns about healthcare and social welfare. They called for:
- Healthcare Staffing: Immediate hiring of doctors and nurses, and the creation of ICU units.
- Free Public Healthcare: Abolition of all payments in public health structures and substantial measures for the protection of public health.
- Corfu Hospital: Immediate hiring of doctors and nurses for health centers and Corfu Hospital.
- Closed Health Structures: Reopening of all closed health structures and the creation of public nursing homes.
- EFKA Staffing: Hiring of staff for EFKA and equipping them with necessary technical means for immediate and correct pension issuance.
- Social Tourism: Social tourism programs for pensioners.
The pensioners emphasized that a massive and militant participation in their struggles is essential to achieve solutions to their problems. They plan to continue their fight for their insurance and social rights.
Upcoming Protest and Traffic Regulations
Another protest gathering is scheduled for February 28, 2026, at 12:00 PM, at Porta Reala, in connection with the Tempi tragedy. Additionally, traffic regulations will be in effect on Sunday due to carnival events.
